John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 12:13

"and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed." — Hebrews 12:13 (ASV)

And make straight paths, etc. He has been until now teaching us to lean on God’s consolations, so that we may be bold and strenuous in doing what is right, as His help is our only support. He now adds to this another thing: that we ought to walk prudently and to keep to a straight course, for indiscreet ardor is no less an evil than inactivity and weakness.

This straightness of the way which he recommends is preserved when a person’s mind is superior to every fear and regards only what God approves, for fear is always very ingenious in finding out byways. Therefore, just as we seek circuitous courses when entangled by sinful fear, so, on the other hand, everyone who has prepared himself to endure evils goes on in a straight way wherever the Lord calls him, and turns neither to the right hand nor to the left. In short, he prescribes to us this rule for our conduct—that we are to guide our steps according to God’s will, so that neither fear nor the allurements of the world, nor any other things, may draw us away from it.

Hence he adds, Lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, or, lest by halting you should go astray; that is, lest by this halting you should eventually depart far from the way. He calls it halting when people’s minds fluctuate, and they do not devote themselves sincerely to God. So spoke Elijah to the double-minded who blended their own superstitions with God’s worship: How long halt ye between two opinions? (1 Kings 18:21).

And it is a fitting way of speaking, for it is a worse thing to go astray than to halt. Nor do those who begin to halt immediately turn from the right way; rather, they gradually depart from it more and more, until, having been led into a different path, they remain entangled in the midst of Satan’s labyrinth. Hence the apostle warns us to strive for the removal of this halting promptly; for if we give way to it, it will eventually turn us far away from God.

The words may indeed be rendered, “Lest halting should grow worse,” or turn aside; but the meaning would remain the same. For what the Apostle intimates is that those who do not keep a straight course, but gradually though carelessly turn here and there, eventually become wholly alienated from God.